An outdoor kitchen opens up countless possibilities for backyard entertainment and enjoyment. While it may be your favorite space to enjoy a sunrise breakfast or afternoon snack, your outdoor kitchen is also the perfect area to host a dinner party, complete with a cocktail hour and dessert tray. Enjoy this incredible space anytime with these sleek modern outdoor lighting ideas for your outdoor kitchen in Glenview, IL.
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Landscape lighting is an important feature for any space in your yard for both safety and evening enjoyment, but it is even more useful in your outdoor kitchen where you will spend a great deal of time cooking and entertaining. Illuminate the area without harsh, blinding lights that shine in your eyes and cast awkward shadows around you.
Illuminate Your Features
Install overhead spotlights above the features you need to use the most. These lights can still be soft, not harsh, but will give you light where you need it most. Think about the areas where you prepare and cook food, such as your countertops, grill or stovetop. Also consider illuminating eating areas, such as a bar or patio set, so that you don’t have to struggle through eating in the dark. Spotlights with a dimming feature will set the mood over your bar, and small lights can be easily installed on the underside of umbrellas at your dining set.
Area Lighting
Provide soft lighting to gently illuminate your entire kitchen area. Lighting installed on a pavilion ceiling will cast a gentle glow throughout the space. Decorative sconces on walls or pillars will define the borders of your kitchen area. Hang a sophisticated set of string lights from pergola rafters to enjoy your food and drink under a soft glow.
Accent Lighting
One of the most defining features of an outdoor kitchen is the accent lighting. Accent lights are common in many areas of the space. Install small fixtures spaced out evenly under your countertops, to illuminate the area for both safety and a cozy ambiance without having to turn on overhead lights. Take extra care to place this style of lighting near your cabinets and appliances so that you can access them without the need for additional light in those areas. Some appliances, such as a wine cooler, may come with a built-in light that can be left on constantly as a feature piece, or will turn on when the door is opened.
Styles of Light
For any of the lighting fixtures that you choose for your outdoor kitchen, consider the many different styles of light that you could use to create a unique atmosphere. Crisp, cool light will create a lively and energetic atmosphere, perfect for hosting dinner parties and celebrations with your friends and neighbors. Soft, warm light will bring an element of relaxation and tranquility for you to enjoy an intimate evening meal with your partner or closest friends. Experiment with different colored accent lights around your bar area, or colored string lights, to animate the space with some extra fun and pizzaz for late-night cocktail hours.
Firelight
Finish off your evening seated around a sleek and stylish propane fire pit. This could be a standalone structure installed on one side of your kitchen area, with comfortable chairs or couches surrounding it. For an extra flair, and to conserve space in your landscape, search for a patio set that holds a small propane fire pit in the center of the table. The use of propane, instead of traditional wood fire pits, allows you to keep a controlled fire, and the fire pits can be found in a variety of sleek and modern styles.
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